Currycomb.



Patented lllay 7, I90l. o. s. .uaumuss.

m. mun.

0U RRYCOMB.

(Application filed Jam 14, 1901.)

(No Modal.)

ATENT FFICE.

OSCAR S. JENNINGS, OF DANBY, NEW YORK.

CURRYCOMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 673,817, dated May 7, 1901. Application filed January 14, 1901. Serial No. 43,280. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR S. JENNINGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danby, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ourrycombs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in currycombs, and has for its object to provide a simple and efiective cleaning device,in combination with a currycomb,by which the comb may be readily and quickly, at the pleasure of the user, cleared of hair and dirt. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my invention, being a currycomb with my cleaning device in place. Fig. 2 represents my cleaning device detached. Fig. 3 represents a modification thereof. Fig. 4 represents a currycomb with the modification attached and in place shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a top view of an end portion of my invention.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. l the under side of the most simple and common form of currycomb A is shown, with its several serrated scrapers or combplates B.

G is a cleaner-plate (separately illustrated in Fig. 2) and consists of one piece of thin spring-steel orother spring-metal plate,which when not fastened down in place is normally curved, as if a section of the outer surface or shell of a cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2, and with its convex side toward the comb. One end of the plate, parallel to its axis of curvature, is bent upon itself to form small journals D, and sections E of the plate are cut out to enable it to be put between the combplates B and close against the back of the comb A. These cut-out spaces are indicated by the letter E in Fig. 2, also in Fig. 3. The opposite end of the plate 0 is bent practically at a right angle, so as to form a narrow flange or wing F to project slightly above the edge of the comb, as illustrated in Fig. 5. At any convenient point and for any distance desired in this wing,preferably about midway, a crimp G is made in the metal, so that when the cleaner-plate is pressed into place against the under side of the back of the comb for its whole length the spring in the metal causes the crimp therein and the edge of the combframe to lock together. The plate 0 is attached to the comb by means of a rod or wire H, passing through the journals D and corresponding holes J in the ends of the combs or scrapers B. This rod may be riveted at each end, and thus held in place. A handle or pro jection K, integral with the wing F, may be made.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a currycomb and cleanerplate are illustrated in which comb-plates or scrapers are in pairs,with an opening through the back of the comb between the pairs and as shown in Fig. 5, and which openings are not filled by the form of plate shown in Fig. 2. If it is desired to have the cleaner-plate effective on each side of each comb-plate or scraper, the form illustrated in Fig.3 may be used, the cut-out sections being each only slightly wider than the thickness of each comb-plate, and which is illustrated in position in Fig. 4 and which may in like manner as the other form be attached to any currycomb, whether the latter have an open or closed back.

In using my invention the currycomb, with cleaner-plate attached and fastened in place, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is handled in the usual manner, and whenever it is desired to clear the teeth from hair or dirt pressure of the thumb upon the projection or wing of the plate over the crimp therein at the edge of the currycomb releases the free end of the plate, and on account of its normally convex side being next to the currycomb the plate 0 takes its curved form and flies to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 4t, removing the hair and dirt automatically from the comb-teeth. It is found that the spring curvature in the plate C is usually sufficient to do this, though the user may of course, if he chooses, swing the cleaner-plate to the open position by taking hold of it with the hand. A strike-rod L may be inserted through the comb-plates, between the adjacent ends and the hinge-rod, for the plate 0 to strike against when it flies open, and thus by the sudden stop be cleared of the hair and dirt. The same purpose is served by projecting back of the comb and so is well out of the way of the serrated edges of the comb-plates, and when the free end of the cleaner-plate is released the latter strikes with momentum against the hair and dirt and automatically and efiectively removes them. This feature also has the advantage of preventing any accumulation of hair or dirt between the cleanerplate and the back of the comb.

I am aware that there have been heretofore currycombs invented and described having cleaner-plates attached; but all of them used a spring or other means separate from the plate to operate the same; but none of them, so far as I can discover, were of similar construction to mine, in which for effectiveness and simplicity the normally-curved form and resiliency of the plate itself are utilized.

I do not claim the cleaner-plate broadly, except in combination with the special features thereof hereinabove described.

I Myinvention has the advantage of firmness of part-s, efficiency and simplicity, and low cost of manufacture.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a currycomb of a cleaner-plate, consisting of a thin piece of spring-steel or other spring metal, flat when fastenedin place at both ends against the under side of the back of the currycomb and between the comb-plates,but normally curved when released at one end, being hinged to the comb-plates at one end parallel to the axis of curvature, and means to engage the edge of the comb-frame at the other end, as described.

2. The combination with a currycomb of a cleaner-plate consisting of a thin piece of spring-steel or other spring metal, fiat when fastened in place at both ends against the under side of the back of the currycomb and between the comb-plates,but normally curved when released at one end, being hinged to the comb-plates at one end parallel to the axis of curvature, means to engage the edge of the comb-frame at the other end, and means for arresting the motion of the cleaner-plate, as described.

3. The combination with a currycomb of a cleaner-plate consisting of a thin piece of spring-steel or other spring metal, flat when fastened in place at both ends against the under side of the back of the currycomb and between the comb-plates, but normally curved when released at one end, being hinged to the comb-plates at one end parallel to the axis of curvature, means to engage the other end with the adjacent edge of the comb-frame, and stop-lugs on the ends of the comb-plates near the hinged end of the cleaner-plate, operative to arrest the motion of the latter, as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

OSCAR S. JENNINGS.

Witnesses:

E. L. FROST, FRED H. SMITH. 

